https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=c25be902ff&view=pt&cat=Acacia%2FAcacia%20Emails&search=cat&th=1572025d7f24f1f1&siml=1572025d7f24f1f1 1/8 September 12, 2016 A Letter from the Venerable Dean As we enter into a new semester our executive board met for the first time at our executive retreat. It was very nice to see a newfound fire lit among my exec board, which, I believe; I have Conclave to thank for this. This year our Senior Dean, Mackoy Staloch, will be starting something new for our pledges here at Mizzou, and that would be a week of events fostering brotherhood in the later part of their pledgeship. Similar weeks are held in many other Acacia chapters around the country. Based on their advice he came up with a weeklong schedule that includes a pledge class brotherhood night, service events, and lessons from the Pythagoras for every evening. This, we believe, will build a better, more solid relationship among the pledge class that will be helpful in their future Acacian years. Also, our Service and Philanthropy Director Trevor Orr has already begun work on our annual Acacia Claus philanthropy event happening in the late fall. He has a goal of exceeding $5,000 by canning not only on campus but also downtown and seeking out alumni support. With his planning and drive, I believe this will be our most successful Acacia Claus in recent years. Last semester the active chapter voted our House Dad, Blaine Regan, to Honorary Brother status. With his new status, he has really taken on a new role within the house. He has taken it upon himself to organize a new, more effective chore system as well as offer an ear for brothers who need someone to talk to. Blaine will be going through formal training on how to deal with brothers struggling with their mental health, something that is very important during an individual’s college years. Between retreat, executive retreat, and Conclave, our brotherhood has come back to Mizzou with a newfound fire and drive. With this fire and drive, we hope to have one of the best all around semesters Acacia at Mizzou has seen in a while. Fraternally, Shane Burns, 13.0984
Transcript
9/13/2016 Gmail - The Mummy: September 2016 Update
As we enter into a new semester our executive board met for the first time at our executive retreat. Itwas very nice to see a newfound fire lit among my exec board, which, I believe; I have Conclave tothank for this. This year our Senior Dean, Mackoy Staloch, will be starting something new for ourpledges here at Mizzou, and that would be a week of events fostering brotherhood in the later part oftheir pledgeship. Similar weeks are held in many other Acacia chapters around the country. Based ontheir advice he came up with a weeklong schedule that includes a pledge class brotherhood night,service events, and lessons from the Pythagoras for every evening. This, we believe, will build a better,more solid relationship among the pledge class that will be helpful in their future Acacian years. Also,our Service and Philanthropy Director Trevor Orr has already begun work on our annual Acacia Clausphilanthropy event happening in the late fall. He has a goal of exceeding $5,000 by canning not onlyon campus but also downtown and seeking out alumni support. With his planning and drive, I believethis will be our most successful Acacia Claus in recent years. Last semester the active chapter votedour House Dad, Blaine Regan, to Honorary Brother status. With his new status, he has really taken ona new role within the house. He has taken it upon himself to organize a new, more effective choresystem as well as offer an ear for brothers who need someone to talk to. Blaine will be going throughformal training on how to deal with brothers struggling with their mental health, something that isvery important during an individual’s college years. Between retreat, executive retreat, and Conclave,our brotherhood has come back to Mizzou with a newfound fire and drive. With this fire and drive, wehope to have one of the best all around semesters Acacia at Mizzou has seen in a while.
Fraternally,
Shane Burns, 13.0984
9/13/2016 Gmail - The Mummy: September 2016 Update
The last week of July held the 59th Biennial Conclave inLouisville, Kentucky. Five undergraduates and onealumnus from the Missouri Chapter traveled to the eventto deepen their ties with the Acacia Fraternity. All of theMissouri undergraduate members were attending theirfirst Conclave and had no idea what awaited them as thefestivities began. Arriving at The Brown Hotel was atruly memorable experience. It was a sumptuous venuethat had brothers from around the nation congregating.Some members recognized each other from variousmulti-chapter and international events while mostbrothers met for the first time. Every brother felt excitedas International President Jeremy Davis welcomed theattendees with a small presentation about Louisville.That evening was the first of many where brothers couldshare stories and celebrate the success of theInternational Fraternity over the past biennium.
Amidst the celebration that Conclave is, business sessions began that first day discussing whathappened over the past biennium in comparison to the projected goals that were set two years prior.Following that, all of the undergraduate brothers were divided into groups to discuss issues andsuccesses from their own chapters. These discussions helped brothers discover ideas that couldbenefit their individual chapters. Whether brothers had just been initiated months prior or they werein their last semester of active membership, everyone found something that they could relate to.Alongside the breakout sessions for undergraduates, there were sessions held explicitly for alumni.Headquarters’ Staff prepared great educational sessions for brothers in either phase of Acaciamembership. Some of the most substantial takeaways from the week came from the presentationsgiven by guests or Headquarters’ Staff. Two professional presenters came in and delivered veryimpactful speeches. One speaker gave an inspirational presentation on leadership skills while theother gave an impressive presentation regarding recruitment and retention of members.Headquarters’ staff then held helpful sessions concerning event planning, recruitment skills, andchapter finances. Following many of these presentations were receptions and banquets servingvarious purposes.
9/13/2016 Gmail - The Mummy: September 2016 Update
At the top of The Brown Hotel, the William A. Utic Acacia Fraternity Foundation ScholarshipLuncheon was held to recognize chapter achievements and grant scholarships to outstandingindividuals. The Missouri Chapter took great pride in being awarded one of the two Best Publicationawards for The Mummy. Missouri brothers attending also had the chance to accept one of the fourGood of the Fraternity awards. This award is given to chapters that have great communication withInternational and good participation in International events. One of the most memorable momentsfor the brothers from the Missouri chapter of Acacia happened during the final banquet. This banquetwas held on the final evening of the 59th Biennial Conclave. Many outstanding brothers wererecognized for truly representing the values of Acacia. During this banquet, one of Missouri’s recentalumni, Brother Jackson Aaberg, received the Order of Pythagoras. This was a moment of great pridefor the Missouri Chapter as a whole. Between the recognition that the Missouri Chapter received andthe educational sessions held, the undergraduate members have returned to their house on 1419Wilson Avenue with a fire that is burning brighter than ever. The future is bright for the Mem Chapterof Acacia, and the brothers are looking forward to seeing what greater accomplishments they canmake before the 60th Biennial Conclave in New Orleans, Louisiana on August 1st to August 5th.
Fraternally,
Harrison Ingold, 13.0987
The Beginning of a Triumphant Recruitment Season
Upon being elected toJunior Recruitment Chairin April of this year, Iconstructed an optimisticvision for what was yet to
9/13/2016 Gmail - The Mummy: September 2016 Update
come in the future of theMem chapter of Acacia.Formal recruitment wastwo months away at thetime, which led to SeniorRecruitment ChairVincent Moschea andmyself hastily preparingfor the vital objectiveahead of us. In prior years,formal recruitment wasseen as an event within thechapter from which weonly received mild success,as our chapter typicallyexcels much more duringinformal recruitment. Brother Moschea and I sought to see this lack of motivation and morale cometo an end, however. We saw that the potential of this formal recruitment could be monumental to theprogression of the chapter.
Once formal recruitment weekend emerged, June 24th through 26th, the chapter promptly shifted itsefforts solely on attracting potential new members (PNM’s); this started with the formal recruitmentexpo on Friday the 24th. Brothers Alex Norman and Junior Dean Fulk assisted Brother Moschea andme with attracting formal potential new members to the ideals of the Acacia Fraternity, which includea strong, fervent brotherhood, outstanding academics, and, of course, prolific human service in theaffairs of the community in which we reside. Our endeavors found multitudes of success, as webecame one of the most preferred fraternities on the University of Missouri campus. Nearly onehundred formal PNM's preferred our chapter and wished to visit our fraternity house.
On the following days of the 25th and 26th, I was floored by the collective efforts of the many activesin attendance, as rushees were given one or two brothers each and were individually given a tour ofthe house. The comradery exemplified brotherhood, and it was incredible to see the ties of friendshipbeing strengthened before my eyes, something that firmly stayed consistent until the conclusion offormal recruitment.
As of September 5th, we have signed five men into pledgeship. I have no doubt in my mind that theywill be magnificent pledges and will most definitely achieve their goal of eventually being initiatedinto the brotherhood. The chapter has until September 18th to recruit and spread the principles ofAcacia to men throughout the campus of Mizzou. The goal is to attain another twenty-man pledgeclass, an achievement that was accomplished by this chapter not long ago. I have the utmost faith thatwe can match or perhaps surpass that number, and that the chapter has the assertion, drive, andambition to do so.
So live,
Benjamin Knapp, 13.1003
Upcoming Alumni Weekend 2016
9/13/2016 Gmail - The Mummy: September 2016 Update
With the fall semester beginning, Mizzou Homecoming approaches. Its theme this year is A Tail ofTradition. During that weekend, Friday, October 21st through Sunday, October 23rd, the MissouriChapter of Acacia will be hosting their Alumni Weekend. The brothers are planning to have a pigroast on that Friday afternoon leading into a reception at the house on 1419 Wilson Avenue. On thefollowing day, the undergraduate and alumni brothers will be tailgating in Lot X like the yearbefore. Following the game versus Middle Tennessee, everyone will be free to congregate at thechapter house, go downtown to enjoy the nightlife, or visit the other organizations that they have beeninvolved in. Concluding the weekend, there will be a Golf Scramble on Sunday where eachalumnus brothers and undergraduate will be paired together. Pairings will be decided before theweekend begins. If you will be attending the weekend, and would like to attend the Golf Scramble aswell, please RSVP by our Junior Dean Michael Bender at [email protected].
Fraternally,
Harrison Ingold, 13.0987
Successful Service
The Brothers of Acacia are proud to announce that they received the Programming ExcellenceAward from the Wellness Resource Center at Mizzou. The chapter received this rewardbecause of their outstanding participation in GAMMA (Greeks Advocating for the MatureManagement of Alcohol) sponsored events. Brothers attended lunch-and-learns where they receivedinformation that can be used to both save lives and improve them. Along with this achievement, thebrothers worked hard when giving back to the community. “The active chapter truly exemplified theAcacia motto, Human Service, this past semester when they were able to record over 300 servicehours,” said Brother Harrison Ingold. “This accomplishment not only brought the undergraduatechapter closer together, but it also resulted in a positive image for the Missouri Chapter of Acacia."Brothers not only went to chapter planned service events, but they found opportunities on their own.Some brothers volunteered at the Mizzou spring blood drive, and over one-third of the chapterparticipated in Caring for Columbia. When individuals participate in Caring for Columbia, they aregrouped with other people and volunteer at various places throughout the city. Setting a goal of 200service hours at the beginning of the semester and recording over 300 shows that Acacians do not justmeet expectations, they exceed them.
Fraternally,
Brian Consiglio, 13.1005
Looking Back at Mom’s Weekend and Forward to Dad’s Weekend
Last spring the Missouri chapter of Acacia hosted their annual Mom’s Weekend. The weekend startedoff with a friendly game night at the house and ended with Sunday brunch cooked by the brothers.The highlight of the weekend was a Saturday trip to a local winery, Les Bourgeois, for delicious winetastings, however. “The moms feel appreciated to be involved in their sons’ lives and get to seefirsthand the bonds that have been made within the fraternity,” said Junior Dean Michael Bender. “Sons get to show their moms all the great things they have gained from the fraternity and can alterthe perception that their moms may have about fraternities in general." The brothers are alreadycounting down the days until the mothers come back next year!
In the mean time, preparations are already under way for Dad’s Weekend 2016. Events will beplanned so that brothers will have time to spend with their fathers. This year the weekend will includea home football game against Vanderbilt, who competes in the eastern division of the SEC, just likeMizzou. Barbecue will be on the grill during the tailgate so that sons and fathers alike can experiencegame day Tiger style!
Fraternally,
Brian Consiglio, 13.1005
9/13/2016 Gmail - The Mummy: September 2016 Update
Another Academic year has come, and it seems that with it a renewed fire in the Missouri Chapter ofAcacia. Part of this fire certainly comes from our alumni who have, since my last letter, ratified ourConstitution for the Acacia Missouri Alumni Association. As well as begun taking nominations forour officer elections, which will be held via a proxy vote prior to Homecoming, where we willannounce the inaugural Executive Board.
The alumni are not the only ones providing the fire, however. For those of you that haven’t heard ourbrotherhood came away with multiple awards at this most recent Conclave in Louisville, Kentucky.Although, among those awards, I was honored and humbled to be presented with the Order ofPythagoras. It was certainly an amazing experience that I will never forget.
But now, I would like to issue a challenge to you all, my brothers. I call it the “Above & BeyondChallenge.” For those of you who do not already know, or maybe have forgotten, the Order ofPythagoras is awarded to those undergraduate or alumni brothers who have gone ‘above and beyondthe call of duty.’ We as brothers of the Missouri Chapter are in a special place where we can easilygrow to be one of the top three Chapters of Acacia Internationally. That said, if we hope to do so wewill need both active and alumnus members to go above and beyond.
So, here is my offer to you all, for any Undergraduate who earns the OP in the next biennium, Iwill give them a $100 scholarship towards their dues. For any alumnus who earns the OP orAward of Merit, I will make a $100 donation to the Anthony Olson scholarship fund in
your name. I hope that you all make me regret issuing this challenge, but really, the onus is on us allto take action.
I truly feel as if I can see into our future, and it is bright with Acacia Regalia and tiny golden pins onlapels. Please, help me make the future that I see for the Missouri Chapter of Acacia a reality. ThisChapter gave me so much as an undergrad, and has continued to be there for me even as an alumnus,and I am so very thankful for its continued existence. I know after meeting our newest brothers lastSpring that we are in good hands. Prove me right, and let us together catapult the Missouri Chapter tothe top.
So Live & M-I-Z,
Jackson Aaberg, 13.0945
Dates to Remember
Induction September 19th
Alumni Weekend - October 21st - 23rd
Initiation November 5th
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